The Hours - Thursdays from 25th June

Read and discuss this exceptional modern classic which intertwines the life of Virginia Woolf with two new characters, one of whom is known as "Mrs Dalloway" Highlights Join this book club and gain extra motivation to read in English 5 hours of live classes to help you develop fluent speaking in English Study this modern classic novel and increase your knowledge of Virginia Woolf Be corrected by an expert English teacher to remove errors and mistakes Practise and develop your English online in this 5 week advanced book club course using the modern classic novel The Hours by Michael Cunningham. Each week you read some chapters, discuss them in class and improve specific areas of vocabulary or grammar while also examining literary aspects of the novel. Personalised feedback improves your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. The Book Club book ‘The Hours’ is a deeply moving novel inspired by the life and work of Virginia Woolf. However it is not a biography, Michael Cunningham combines her story with those of two more contemporary women - one in the late 1940s, and one in the present day. As the character of Virginia Woolf struggles with writing her new novel "Mrs Dalloway", in New York 52-year-old Clarissa Vaughan is arranging a party for her dear friend who is dying. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles in 1949, Laura Brown, a married housewife struggles with everyday activities, while wishing to continue her reading of Mrs Dalloway. The three women in the Hours are linked by Woolf's great novel, each desperate for an hour in the day when their lives seem alive and full of hope. This is a very readable novel with a gripping plot. Cunningham's tribute to Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway revisits some of her themes in contemporary settings. "A major achievement from a writer who has earned every work of praise yet directed at him. Not only is The Hours a major achievement for Cunningham, it is important for fiction." -- Irish Times "Engrossing, imaginative and humane." -- Observer Geoff says: "This is a beautiful, poignant and moving book. Michael Cunningham was the winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize and Pen Faulkner prize. The Hours was also made into a wonderful Oscar-winning film starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman. The Hours is much easier to read than Woolf's "Mrs Dalloway"!" Only 8 places available. Click Add to Cart to reserve your place. The Book Genre: Psychological fiction; parallel novel Language: American English Suitable for: Anyone used to reading in English Level: Advanced Text: Original 223 pages (average weekly read: 55 pages) Date & Time Thursdays from 25th June-23rd July 17.30 CET (Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome & most EU) 16.30 (UTC+1/GMT+1) London, UK, Portugal 18.30 Greece, Ukraine 18.30 Turkey, Saudi Arabia 11.30 EST (New York/Boston) 12.30 Brasília BRT, (UTC -3:00) Age 18+ Online class size Maximum 8 participants, on Zoom, using break-out rooms for increased speaking and discussion What you learn To eradicate errors in grammar and pronunciation To develop and extend areas of high level vocabulary To use natural patterns of English grammar & syntax To gain a deeper understanding of cultural issues To polish & enhance my English through summarising To overcome any gaps by paraphrasing or rephrasing To confidently connect with and debate with others Your teacher Geoff Hardy-Gould, BSc, MBA, CTEFLA, DTEFLA. Over 20 years' experience of UK language schools. Speaker at: 2026 IATEFL Conference; 2025 Literature SIG Conference; 2024 IATEFL Conference; 2023 IATEFL TechLit! Exploring crossovers between technology and literature; 2022 Extensive Reading Foundation; 2021 TESOL Italia